Sectional table



United States Patent -()fi ice 2,722,287 Patented Nov. ll 955 SECTIONAL TABLE VernonE. Beinhorn, New'Pra'guefMinn.

Application June 1 6, 1952, SerialNo.'293;733

3 Claims. (Cl. 1 8 6- 1) thi'siinvention relates 'to a sectional table and more particularly t'oa combined sta'tionary table and-portable table.

:It is'an important object of this inv'e'n'tion tofprovide fora sim le and inexpensive sectional table which will have a high degree of pleasing appearance -''as well -as utility.

It is another "object of the invention to provide for a stationary table structure -ha'ving a recessed central portion into which a portable table rnay -be positioned so as to cover substantially the recessed portion and combine the 'table tops o'f the' p'or'table and stationary table's, yet maintaining the portable table top in a position accessible to persons seated about the Stationary table.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for a sectional table of the class described wherein a portable sectioncan be employed as a cart'so as to bring articles such as dishes and food to and from the stationary section and while in cooperative position with the'stationary table will add to the total area thereof while-being'accessible to the persons seated around the stationary table.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following -description made in connection with'the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar .parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top elevation of my sectional table showing the portable table in cooperative position with the stationary table and a dotted line representation of the portable table when partially withdrawn from the stationary table;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my sectional table with the portable section in partly withdrawn position;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the sectional table look- I ing in the direction of the arrows 3-3 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a segment of my sectional table taken on the lines 44 of Fig. 1 and showing the relative positioning of the portable section with respect to the stationary section.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, my sectional table comprises generally a stationary table section S and a portable table section P. The stationary table section may have a top of any general shape but is preferably of a rectangular configuration as shown, having outer side edges 11, a continuous end edge 12 and opposite end edges 13. Extending inwardly and centrally of the stationary table top 10 is a recessed area 14 defined by a cut out portion extending from the end edges 13 along parallel lines 15 at either edge thereof to the inner edge 16. Referring now to Fig. 2, the top 10 of the stationary table S may have the usual reinforcing structure 17 and legs 18 and 19 secured to the underside of the stationary table top 10. It will be noted that there is no leg or other supporting structure beneath the open area 14 which forms the recess within the stationary table S. It is understood 2 that the general sha e of thetop 10 may "be U-shaped was not to provide too great an area at anyparticular seating position about the stationary table. Thus, "the end edge 12 could be semi-circular or otherwise curved with a corresponding curve at the edge 16 forming the end of the recessed area.

The other section of my sectional table is the portable table or cart P which is smaller in size, having a top 20 which is substantially of the same area as the recessed area within the stationary table S. I prefer to have the table top 20 'of the same configuration but of slightly greater areaasshown in Fig. 1 Thus, where I may have the portable table top area 20 exactly the same size and at exactly the same height as the recessed portion 14 of the stationary table S, I find that it is more practical to have the area slightly greater with the portable table top 20 closel'y'overlying the recessed area rather than being coextensive and coplanar with the recessed area. For example, it is easier for food particles to become lodged between the cooperating edges of the flush table tops, and dishes which may extend over the crack formed by such arrangement may become unseated and fall -to the -floor where the tops are coplanar. With the slightly raised portable table top 20 a dish must be either positively placed upon the portable top or similarly placed upon the stationary top 10 and -henc'e will not become dislodged during the removal of the cart for the reason that it is partially on one and partially -on the other. The portable table top 20 has a bracing structure 21 which is similar to the structure '17 on the stationary table. Attached to the underside of the table top 20 and to the bracing structure 21 are legs '22 which have rotatable elements such as caster wheels 23 at the lower extremities thereof. At one end-of the portable table P is-a-rnanual grasping'a'rrangement 'such'as bar handle 24 secured between spaced brackets 25 which in turn are fastened to' the'unders'ide of table top 20. For ease'of operation, it is preferred "to have a slight clearance between the portable table-'P-an'd therecess'e'dportion '14 of the stationary table S. This, of course, is another reason for having the portable table top 20 overlying and slightly larger than the recessed portion, Since variations in the exact positioning of the cart will not create spaces between the edges of the two table tops. The edges 13 of the stationary table top 10 are rounded at the corners adjacent the recessed opening as shown at 26 in Fig. 1. A buifer strip 27 is secured to the bracing structure 21 beneath the top 20 of the portable table P and a corresponding buffer strip 28 is secured to the inner edges 15 of the recessed opening 14 in the stationary table top 10. These buffer strips are positioned so as to be opposed for contacting one another during the insertion of the portable table P cooperatively with the stationary table S. Although the table may be used with a tablecloth especially designed for the U-shaped area as shown, it is preferable to use a waterproof plastic top which can be supplied in natural wood finish or in a countless variety of interesting and beautiful patterns. The portable table top 20 is, of course, similarly formed and supplied with a matching or pleasingly contrasting color scheme.

In the use of my device, the portable section P may be wheeled into the kitchen where food, dishes and utensils may be placed upon the top thereof. The cart is then wheeled back to the room in which the stationary table is situated and is inserted within the recessed area thereof. Since the portable section is centrally located With respect to the stationary section, persons seated about the stationary table can reach the area of the portable table and thus may conveniently select their own food, as well as plates in buffet style. After serving guests, the plates, silverware and remaining food can be placed upon the top of the portable table P and taken to the kitchen in a single trip.

It may thus be seen that I have devised a pleasing furniture combination in the form of a sectional table, one portion of which is portable and the other of which is stationary, which has great utility in facilitating the serving of food to guests and washing the dishes thereafter.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A sectional table comprising a stationary table section having a horizontal top surface with a recessed area extending inwardly from an outer edge thereof, leg supports secured to the undersurface of said stationary table top and defining a substantially unobstructed space for the height of said table beneath said recessed area, a portable table section having a horizontal and plane top of a configuration substantially equivalent to that of the recessed portion of the stationary table section top, wheeled supporting legs secured to the underside of said portable table section top and of a configuration adapted to interfit within said space defined by the stationary table section to form a consolidated table area, said portable table section having an over-all height slightly different than that of said stationary table section whereby the top of the portable table section will be slightly out of coplanar alignment with that of the stationary table section when the portable section is laterally guided into interfitting relation with said recessed area.

2. A sectional table comprising a stationary table section having a horizontal and plane top surface with a recessed area extending inwardly from an outer edge thereof and having parallel side edges lateral to said outer edge, bufier means secured along said parallel side edges, leg supports secured to the undersurface of said stationary table top and defining a substantially unobstructed space for the height of said table beneath said recessed area, a portable table section having a horizontal and plane top of a configuration slightly larger than that of the recessed portion of the stationary table section top and having an overlapping margin for close association therewith, wheeled supporting legs secured to the underside of said portable table section top and of a configuration adapted to interfit within said unobstructed space to form a consolidated table area, and cooperating buffer means disposed at the sides of said portable table section whereby the portable table section may be laterally shifted with the buffer elements in guiding relation to position said portable table section top slightly above and in overlying relation with the stationary table section top.

3. A sectional table comprising a stationary table section having a horizontal top surface with a recessed area formed medially of the table and extending completely outwardly through one edge thereof, supporting structure secured to the undersurface of said stationary table section and underlying only the table section at the margins of said recessed area. so as to define a substantially unobstructed space for the height of said stationary table section including the recessed area and the space directly therebelow, a portable table section having a horizontal and plane top of a configuration substantially equivalent to that of the recessed portion of the stationary table section top, wheeled supporting legs secured to the underside of said portable table section, said stationary table section having its upper portion of a configuration adapted to interfit with said recessed area to form a consolidated table area with the stationary table section and the wheeled supporting legs thereof adapted to move into and freely interfit within the space below said recessed area, said portable table section having an overall height slightly different from that of said stationary table section whereby the top of the portable table section will be slightly out of coplanar alignment with that of the stationary table section when the portable section is laterally guided into interfitting relation with said recessed area, the portable section of said consolidated top presenting a supporting surface which will discourage the placement of dishes and the like directly at the juncture thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 57,209 Staples Aug. 14, 1866 910,993 Dentz Jan. 26, 1909 1,252,020 Platt Jan. 1, 1918 1,318,387 Keevil Oct. 14, 1919 1,624,267 Lyndon et a1. Apr. 12, 1927 1,675,545 Goss July 3, 1928 2,379,094 Maxon, Jr June 26, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 285,002 Great Britain Aug. 16, 1928 

